Can anyone share their experiences of their early Panamera
Discussion
Having recently realised that early Panameras have dipped to quite affordable prices I'm very tempted to buy one as a daily driver. There seem to be quite a few 3.0 diesels at around 2011/2 for about £30K with low mileages.
Even higher mileage ones seem to wear wear very well. One I looked at nearby was a 61 plate with 100K on it and the interior looked virtually new. I didn't drive it as a bad paint repair put me off it but they look amazing value for what seems to be a proper luxury car.
I do 20-25K miles a year and am wondering if an early car would be a good buy.
Are there any serious maintenance costs I'd need to factor into ownership?
How have others got on with these earlier cars.
Any advice appreciated.
Even higher mileage ones seem to wear wear very well. One I looked at nearby was a 61 plate with 100K on it and the interior looked virtually new. I didn't drive it as a bad paint repair put me off it but they look amazing value for what seems to be a proper luxury car.
I do 20-25K miles a year and am wondering if an early car would be a good buy.
Are there any serious maintenance costs I'd need to factor into ownership?
How have others got on with these earlier cars.
Any advice appreciated.
I've got a 59 Petrol S. It still looks box fresh inside. Outside the PPF is beginning to look a bit sorry for itself and there are the inevitable stone chips you pick up with derestricted autobahn speeds and driving in the Alps but the paintwork overall is holding up well.
It has a varied life - London to Milan and back once a month or so and plenty of local driving in the Italian Lakes area. I drive briskly...
Apart from the gearbox oil cooler s
tting itself (a 2000 Euro fix), I've had no problems with it at all.
They really are very good cars indeed.
It has a varied life - London to Milan and back once a month or so and plenty of local driving in the Italian Lakes area. I drive briskly...
Apart from the gearbox oil cooler s
tting itself (a 2000 Euro fix), I've had no problems with it at all. They really are very good cars indeed.
I have an 09 Turbo and it still feels (and smells) like new.....yet cost about the same as the diesels you're looking at (both are very good; the car needs lots of torque).
Looked at the forums for months beforehand and it seems almost nothing goes wrong with them (yet!). You can warranty them with Porsche up to 15 years old, don't forget, although they insist on all-OEM parts (including tyres and brakes, which the warranty doesn't cover.....), which soon adds up. 2 years is £1900+cost of inspection (£200-ish). I've not bothered as it needed all-news discs, pads and tyres; going non-OEM (doing work myself), non-warranty has saved £4000 already!
Fantastic piece of kit and if you're doing that many miles, a great choice. Only draw-back is that it is wide, which can be an issue on narrow roads and in underground/multi-storey car parks.Try to get air suspension if you can (and bigger wheels, which look better), double-glazing is great and I've been really impressed with the rear sun-blind (helps a lot at night). You can get TechArt flappy-paddles for £150 or so, if (like me) you don't like the rocker switches on the steering wheel (which is otherwise fantastic).
Trying to resist the huge temptation to re-map.......
Yachting blue and RS-Spyder wheels is my favourite combination:
Looked at the forums for months beforehand and it seems almost nothing goes wrong with them (yet!). You can warranty them with Porsche up to 15 years old, don't forget, although they insist on all-OEM parts (including tyres and brakes, which the warranty doesn't cover.....), which soon adds up. 2 years is £1900+cost of inspection (£200-ish). I've not bothered as it needed all-news discs, pads and tyres; going non-OEM (doing work myself), non-warranty has saved £4000 already!
Fantastic piece of kit and if you're doing that many miles, a great choice. Only draw-back is that it is wide, which can be an issue on narrow roads and in underground/multi-storey car parks.Try to get air suspension if you can (and bigger wheels, which look better), double-glazing is great and I've been really impressed with the rear sun-blind (helps a lot at night). You can get TechArt flappy-paddles for £150 or so, if (like me) you don't like the rocker switches on the steering wheel (which is otherwise fantastic).
Trying to resist the huge temptation to re-map.......
Yachting blue and RS-Spyder wheels is my favourite combination:
They just seem such a nice place to spend what amounts to about 2 months in a year of driving time and there seem to be many around at 150K miles plus still looking great and little more than routine servicing spent on them.
Other cars I'm considering are a 640D or a CLS but the Panamera just looks so much more special both inside and out.
Other cars I'm considering are a 640D or a CLS but the Panamera just looks so much more special both inside and out.
Had a 4S in Yachting blue, spyder wheels and that interior, for about a year or so.
was a lovely car, but the temptation of a full Black sports design pack Turbo won.
4S had an issue with the PASM dampers - there was a light knock from the NSF one, over certain bumps that the OPC just couldn't cure. I dont think it was the damper, as a last resort they replaced it under warranty.
Knock still there.
I solved it by swapping to the Turbo !
no issues at all on that car - it was a ballistic missile, notching up nearly 190 mph @ brunters.
I'd have one again - the warranty certainly helps for piece of mind
was a lovely car, but the temptation of a full Black sports design pack Turbo won.
4S had an issue with the PASM dampers - there was a light knock from the NSF one, over certain bumps that the OPC just couldn't cure. I dont think it was the damper, as a last resort they replaced it under warranty.
Knock still there.
I solved it by swapping to the Turbo !
no issues at all on that car - it was a ballistic missile, notching up nearly 190 mph @ brunters.
I'd have one again - the warranty certainly helps for piece of mind
I had a 2012 GTS, which I bought secondhand through the AUC program and did 20k miles in over 2 years of ownership. I realise the GTS has lower suspension than most Panameras but it had numerous suspension issues, including having all the bushes replaced as well as numerous control arms and other parts - apparently a common problem on early Panameras, so check if they have been replaced.
I saw one of the repair bills when I went to pick it up after the replacement of the bushes and the bill was something like £5.5k, so I'd never run one without a warranty. I had some electrical niggles with the PDCC not going into sport mode on occasion (never fixed), the car not starting after a hot run through town (never fixed) and also had to have a replacement air conditioning compressor.
I enjoyed the car despite the faults but when it developed a funny knocking noise on full lock that the dealers simply couldn't identify or fix, I traded it in against a 64 plate Panamera Turbo S. The Gen 2 cars apparently had substantial suspension revamps and do ride quite differently in my experience.
I saw one of the repair bills when I went to pick it up after the replacement of the bushes and the bill was something like £5.5k, so I'd never run one without a warranty. I had some electrical niggles with the PDCC not going into sport mode on occasion (never fixed), the car not starting after a hot run through town (never fixed) and also had to have a replacement air conditioning compressor.
I enjoyed the car despite the faults but when it developed a funny knocking noise on full lock that the dealers simply couldn't identify or fix, I traded it in against a 64 plate Panamera Turbo S. The Gen 2 cars apparently had substantial suspension revamps and do ride quite differently in my experience.
BnB said:
My business partner is selling his low mileage diesel Panny by sale or return at an independent here in Yorkshire. If you're serious PM me and I'll put you in touch to cut out the middle man. I'd be shocked if it weren't in absolutely perfect order. He's obsessive with his cars.
Many thanks PM sent.I've been running a 2013 Platinum-spec diesel as my daily drive since new. It's a superb car and remains a pleasure to use on every occasion I take it out. I'm firmly of the view that air suspension is a 'must' having driven others with steel springs; the adjustability and sheer comfort make any premium worthwhile. I also agree with an earlier poster that 20" wheels suit the body design and have no discernible impact on ride quality.
It's a big car but I've not found that much of a problem. I regularly drive into London and park on the street without difficulty although you may have to dial up the concentration levels a bit ! The back streets of Amsterdam were more challenging. The diesel unit is fine ( mine is 250BHP) for all normal purposes and the 8-speed box ratios are well-matched. It's ridiculously economical , returning 40mpg in general use and up to 50mpg on a trans-continental run largely in cruise mode. I specified a 100litre tank so I'm not often seen at the local garage.
Suspension can sound a bit clonky on occasions over bad surfaces at low speed but otherwise ride and roadholding are excellent. There's a lot of carrying capacity and, whilst it's strictly a 4-seater , my passengers invariably compliment the comfort of the car.
I wouldn't want to run this car without a Porsche warranty; I suspect repair costs would be eye-watering. The problems I've had have been minor but I think will have covered the premium cost. Tyre wear has been fair at around 15000mls per set.
Ultimately, it's an interesting car which differentiates it from most of the alternatives.
It's a big car but I've not found that much of a problem. I regularly drive into London and park on the street without difficulty although you may have to dial up the concentration levels a bit ! The back streets of Amsterdam were more challenging. The diesel unit is fine ( mine is 250BHP) for all normal purposes and the 8-speed box ratios are well-matched. It's ridiculously economical , returning 40mpg in general use and up to 50mpg on a trans-continental run largely in cruise mode. I specified a 100litre tank so I'm not often seen at the local garage.
Suspension can sound a bit clonky on occasions over bad surfaces at low speed but otherwise ride and roadholding are excellent. There's a lot of carrying capacity and, whilst it's strictly a 4-seater , my passengers invariably compliment the comfort of the car.
I wouldn't want to run this car without a Porsche warranty; I suspect repair costs would be eye-watering. The problems I've had have been minor but I think will have covered the premium cost. Tyre wear has been fair at around 15000mls per set.
Ultimately, it's an interesting car which differentiates it from most of the alternatives.
Interesting feedback, I've often thought about a Panamera as the next "family car" as I am not so keen on the Cayenne.
What are owners' view on carrying capacity? Anyone used to roof racks?
Also, any views on the V6 petrol? I don't want /need diesel and also don't fancy another car with in the £500 road tax bracket.
I have to agree that the Panamera is looking fantastic value for money right now (I’ve got an ‘11 turbo). They are very very spec sensitive though, I’ve been watching the market for a long time - the good ones seem to sell quickly but there are lots of cars out there with odd interior colour combinations / no sports chrono etc which hang around on the market for months.
This thread has just prompted me to check howmanyleft too. Pretty rare cars the turbo, 4s and GTS!
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?page=1&q=Paname...
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?page=1&q=Paname...
Edited by DangerMonkey on Monday 13th November 08:43
I've had mine for around 4 months now, its a fully loaded 4s and I can safely say for the price it is the best car (of type). The build is fantastic.
Grab one with a Bermeister audio option if possible.
There are some frustrations with the cost of satnav upgrades etc but so far I've been to the South of France and back, in comfort and returned great mpg. Mine is on 70k and feels like new.
The only consideration is just how bloody big it is, but then thats a benefit as I brought home a load of furniture in the back with the seats down.
Just had one issue which was a failed coil pack, it is a £50 part to DIY but I'd advise buying from Porsche as the warranty care (Which you pay for in the price) is worth every penny not that you should need it.
Grab one with a Bermeister audio option if possible.
There are some frustrations with the cost of satnav upgrades etc but so far I've been to the South of France and back, in comfort and returned great mpg. Mine is on 70k and feels like new.
The only consideration is just how bloody big it is, but then thats a benefit as I brought home a load of furniture in the back with the seats down.
Just had one issue which was a failed coil pack, it is a £50 part to DIY but I'd advise buying from Porsche as the warranty care (Which you pay for in the price) is worth every penny not that you should need it.
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